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Convenient Hatred: The History Of Antisemitism (2012)

by Phyllis Goldstein(Favorite Author)

4.25 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1283453037 (ISBN13: 9781283453035)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Facing History & Ourselves National Foundation, Incorporated

review 1: Everyone should read this book. In an objective, straight forward way, Goldstein tells the story of two thousand years of prejudice and bigotry against a people. There is no hyperbole here. She tells the story with detailed historical fact highlighting the forced exile of whole communities, the adoption of laws that take away citizenship or basic rights, and the incidents of ethnic hatred and murder (in both small and massive scale). It is the litany of incidents - year after year, decade after decade, century after century - that drums home the point. There is no need for drama in the telling of the story, the sheer number of incidents and the length of time over which antisemitism has been evidenced is indictment enough. The book also underscores (intentionally or ... morenot) several powerful points. First, that so much energy has been put into the persecution of a people that represent an astonishingly small percentage of the world population is almost beyond comprehension. (The Jewish population in the US - acknowledged as the second largest Jewish community in the world - represents no more than 3% of the total US population). Second, that such hatred can be directed against a religion which is the oldest of the three major Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and the foundation from which the other two grew, defies understanding. We of the Abrahamic faiths come from the same root so why such intense hated? Finally, this history, this astonishing tale of persecution for thousands of years in every corner of the world, is the single clearest explanation of the Jewish people's intense desire for a protected national homeland. Considered in historical context, there is no surprise in a people's urgent drive to find a safe home. Many, of course, will argue that we live in a world (particularly in America) where the potential for religious or ethnically based prejudices has passed. To that I would say that there are a host of compelling counterpoints. For example, the book makes it clear that while there have been periods of greater tolerance in world history, prejudice always seems to resurface. In addition, if you think that antisemitism or religious bigotry is not possible here in the US, I would cite the publication of the fictitious and antisemitic "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" by Henry Ford (one of our nation's most admired industrialists) and his far reaching antisemitic pronouncements. I would also suggest you ask Muslim Americans if they feel that religious and ethnic prejudice has passed in this country. Like all of the Abrahamic faiths, mainstream Islam condemns the killing of innocents for any reason. Yet, after 9/11 many Americans irrationally see all Muslims as terrorists.I should also point out, however, that the book contains tales not just of bigotry and hatred, but also courageous acts of tolerance. There have been many individuals throughout history who have come to the defense of tolerance and acceptance - even in the most dire of moments. Indeed, this nation was founded on the principle of tolerance for all. In addition to the factual historic accounting, the book also tries to identify reasons for the hatred and, just as importantly, makes a distinction between political disagreement over the Jewish people's political goals and true antisemitism. Particularly in the era of modern Israel the nation, the book implies the perfectly legitimate right of people to disagree with Israeli policy or objectives as distinct from a stereotyped hatred of the Jewish people. Oddly, the most powerful attribute of the book is that it holds no emotional drama. There is of course, a great deal of emotion behind the history of antisemitism, but his book does not need that emotion. The author simply identifies and narrates a recurring history of actions and explores the possible reasons behind that history. All the more shocking and powerful for it's "stick to the facts" approach. The data simply overwhelms the reader. Whether you are Jewish or not, this book should be required reading. It serves as a guard against the lowest, most debased attribute of human civilization - the irrational hatred and persecution of a people because they are different.
review 2: There is so much information in this book that it's amazing the author could fit it all into 400 pages. This booked is arranged chronologically and thematically. I really learned a lot about the roots of anti-Semitism, which are rarely discussed, including the history of the term "anti-Semitism." Readers will be amazed to discover exactly how far back in time this prejudice is rooted, and the number of variations that a few basic lies have manifested as over centuries. less

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